If you’ve spent any time on Disney+ lately, you’ve probably seen the face of Phoebe-Rae Taylor. She’s the breakout star of the hit movie Out of My Mind, playing Melody Brooks, a brilliant girl with cerebral palsy who is completely nonverbal.
The performance is so raw and authentic that it has everyone asking the same thing: Can Phoebe Rae Taylor talk in real life? It’s a fair question. In an industry where "disability drag"—the practice of able-bodied actors playing disabled characters—is still sadly common, seeing such a grounded performance makes you wonder where the character ends and the actress begins.
Here’s the short answer: Yes, Phoebe-Rae Taylor can talk.
But as with most things in the world of disability and representation, there is a lot more nuance to it than just a "yes" or "no."
The Confusion Between Melody and Phoebe
In Out of My Mind, Melody uses a wheelchair and doesn't speak with her physical voice. To communicate, she eventually gets a "Medi-Talker"—a fictionalized version of a real-world AAC device (Augmentative and Alternative Communication).
The movie even uses the legendary Jennifer Aniston to provide Melody’s "inner voice," representing the rich, complex thoughts trapped inside a body that won't cooperate.
Because Phoebe-Rae has cerebral palsy herself, audiences often assume her physical abilities are identical to Melody’s. Honestly, that’s a testament to her acting. She’s that good.
However, in interviews, Phoebe-Rae has been very clear. She explicitly stated to Young Hollywood, "The obvious difference is that I am not non-verbal."
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While she shares a diagnosis with her character, their lived experiences with communication are different. Phoebe-Rae uses her natural voice to speak, advocate for herself, and do press tours. But she also knows exactly what it feels like to be ignored or spoken over, which is why her portrayal of a nonverbal girl feels so incredibly real.
Why Everyone Thinks She's Nonverbal
The confusion mostly stems from how perfectly she captures the physicality of someone who doesn't use speech.
Cerebral palsy (CP) is a spectrum. It affects motor function, but it looks different for everyone. For some, it impacts leg movement; for others, it affects the muscles used for speech or even fine motor skills in the hands.
Phoebe-Rae’s CP affects her mobility—she is a wheelchair user—but it does not prevent her from vocalizing.
The "Silent" Performance
In the film, Phoebe-Rae had to act using only her eyes, facial expressions, and body language for a huge chunk of the story. Think about how hard that is. Most actors rely on dialogue to carry a scene. She didn't have that luxury.
She had to convey:
- Frustration at being underestimated by teachers.
- The joy of finally "finding her voice" through technology.
- The heartbreaking sting of being left behind by her "friends."
When you see her nail those emotions without saying a word, it’s easy to assume she’s just being herself. But she’s actually putting on a masterclass in physical acting.
The Reality of Communication in the CP Community
The question "Can she talk?" actually points to a bigger conversation about how we view disability.
In the disability community, there is a saying: Presume competence. Just because someone can’t speak doesn't mean they don't have something to say. In Out of My Mind, Melody is a genius with a photographic memory. People assumed she had a cognitive impairment just because she was nonverbal.
Phoebe-Rae has talked about this in real life, too. She’s mentioned that one of the hardest things she faces is when people talk to her mom instead of talking to her.
"I want people to speak to people with disabilities and try to understand and talk to them. All we want is someone to just talk to us and treat us normally for who we are." — Phoebe-Rae Taylor
Even though she can talk, she still experiences the "erasure" that comes with being in a wheelchair. People see the chair and forget there's a person with a voice (physical or otherwise) sitting in it.
How Phoebe-Rae Taylor Communicates in Real Life
If you watch her interviews from the Sundance Film Festival or her appearances on Disney+ promos, you’ll hear her actual voice. It’s a lovely, expressive British accent (she’s from Essex, England).
She’s funny, sharp, and incredibly well-spoken for a teenager who had never acted before landing this massive role.
She actually landed the part of Melody after sending in a homemade audition tape. The directors weren't looking for a "star"; they were looking for authenticity. They found it in a girl who understood the emotional weight of the story because she lives a version of it every day.
Different Ways of "Talking"
While Phoebe-Rae uses speech, many of her peers with cerebral palsy use other methods. It’s kinda cool to look at the tech that inspired the movie:
- Eye-gaze systems: High-tech cameras that track where a person looks on a screen to select words.
- Switch access: Buttons near the head or hands that allow someone to "scan" through an alphabet or word bank.
- Text-to-speech apps: Similar to what Stephen Hawking used, or the modern iPad apps like Proloquo2Go.
Phoebe-Rae doesn't need these to get her point across, but her performance has become a huge win for the millions of people who do.
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The Jennifer Aniston Connection
A lot of the "can she talk" buzz also comes from the fact that Jennifer Aniston's voice is so prominent in the movie.
Director Amber Sealey decided to use Aniston for Melody's "thoughts" to help the audience connect with the character's internal world. Phoebe-Rae is a massive Friends fan, so having "Rachel Green" play her inner monologue was basically a dream come true for her.
But don't let the A-list voiceover distract you. The heart of the character is all Phoebe-Rae. The way she tilts her head, the specific way she smiles—that’s all the actress, and it tells a story that words (even Jennifer Aniston's words) can't quite capture.
Why Authentic Casting Actually Matters
There’s been a lot of debate about whether only disabled actors should play disabled roles.
Phoebe-Rae is the living argument for "Yes."
She brings a specific energy to the screen that an able-bodied actor simply couldn't faking. There’s a scene in the movie where Melody gets frustrated with her physical limitations. Phoebe-Rae has admitted that she’s lived those exact moments. She didn't have to "research" the frustration; she just had to tap into it.
This authenticity is why the movie is ranking so high and why people are so curious about her. We aren't used to seeing real disability on screen, so when we do, we have a million questions about what's "real."
What’s Next for Phoebe-Rae?
At just 16 years old (as of 2026), she’s already a veteran of the festival circuit and a Disney lead.
She’s made it clear that she doesn't want her disability to be the only thing people see. She wants to play characters where the wheelchair isn't the whole plot. She wants to do romance, thrillers, maybe even action.
And honestly? Based on her performance in Out of My Mind, she has the range to do it.
How to Support Better Representation
If you’re inspired by Phoebe-Rae Taylor’s journey or Melody’s story, there are a few things you can do to be a better ally to the disability community:
- Talk to the person, not the caregiver. If you meet someone in a wheelchair or someone who uses a communication device, look them in the eye and speak directly to them.
- Learn about AAC. Understand that "nonverbal" does not mean "nothing to say." If someone is using a device to talk, give them the time and space to finish their sentences.
- Support authentic media. Watch movies and shows that cast disabled actors. The more we watch, the more the industry will realize there is a massive audience for these stories.
- Presume competence. Always start with the assumption that the person you are talking to is intelligent and capable of understanding you, regardless of how they move or speak.
Phoebe-Rae Taylor can talk, and she’s using her voice to make sure the world finally starts listening to people who communicate differently. That’s a lot more important than just whether or not she can vocalize words.
She’s proving that a disability might change how you move through the world, but it doesn't change the value of what you have to contribute. Keep an eye on her—this is definitely not the last time we’ll be hearing from her.